SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Burnside fans 10 as offense explodes in Greensboro

Published on June 10, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Starting pitcher Paul Burnside struck out 10 batters for the second straight game, and Juan Silverio broke open a 1-1 tie with the Intimidators' first grand slam of the season as Kannapolis routed the Greensboro Grasshoppers, 10-4, on Friday night at NewBridge Bank Park.

Burnside (6-2) earned the win in his fourth straight quality start for Kannapolis, going seven innings and allowing one run on four hits and three walks. Burnside struck out 10 batters -- the third time this season he has struck out double-digits -- and has now fanned 41 hitters over his last 27.1 innings of work.

With the game tied, 1-1, Drew Lee singled to lead off the third inning, and Brady Shoemaker doubled him over to third base. Trayce Thompson walked to load the bases, and two batters later Silverio cleared the base paths with his slam, his first home run since April 14.

Kannapolis chased Greensboro starter Rett Varner from the game in the fourth inning after Kenny Gilbert, Kyle Eveland and Lee singled to begin the inning followed by a Shoemaker sac-fly for a 7-1 lead. Thompson reached on an error by Varner before Michael Ojala came out of the bullpen for the Hoppers.

Ojala walked Silverio to load the bases in the fourth inning, and plunked Rafael Vera to bring in a run. Miguel Gonzalez followed with a two-run single to extend the Intimidators lead, 10-1 after four innings. The Intimidators sent 10 batters to the plate in the frame.

Ross Wilson led off the game reaching base when Varner plunked him, but Wilson lost his footing rounding second base on Brady Shoemaker's single and fell awkwardly on his shoulder. Drew Lee, who replaced Wilson on the base-paths, scored on Dan Black's first inning sacrifice fly for the early 1-0 lead.

The Grasshoppers tied the game in the bottom of the second when Burnside -- who struck out the side in the first inning -- walked the leadoff batter Ryan Fisher. Aaron Dudley followed with a deep double to centerfield to bring home Fisher from first to tie the game, 1-1.

Varner (2-1) finished with 3 1/3 innings of work, allowed nine runs (six earned) on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in his first loss of the season.

The Grasshoppers tacked on two runs in the eighth inning off Chase Cooney, but Nick McCully came in with the bases loaded to strike out James Wooster to end the inning. Greensboro added another run off McCully in the ninth.

The Intimidators and Grasshoppers wrap up the I-85 series on Saturday at NewBridge Bank Park as Kannapolis sends RHP Steven Upchurch (2-4, 3.10 ERA) to the mound against Greensboro's RHP Jheyson Manzueta (0-5, 6.90 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 10, 2011


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